Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University is one of the leading law schools in Canada. With a diverse student body representing every province, the school needed an integrated solution to streamline communications, enhance student engagement, and centralize its academic processes. In 2023, Schulich made the switch to Symplicity UniHub, to provide a comprehensive system to improve the student journey from application to graduation.
Since successfully implementing and launching UniHub, Schulich School of Law has been able to improve on inefficiencies, automate processes, and improve both faculty and student experiences.
From inefficiency to success
Before adopting UniHub, the law school faced several challenges in managing academic communications and processes. Information was scattered across various platforms such as email, the university website, and Brightspace (Dalhousie's LMS), which often left students confused about where to find essential resources. The administrative staff was also overwhelmed with managing multiple Excel sheets and manually tracking student submissions for processes like academic dispensations.
The school wanted a centralized platform that could streamline communication, improve student tracking, and enhance the student experience by providing a one-stop portal for all academic needs.
In 2023, Schulich School of Law implemented Symplicity UniHub to address these challenges. The platform was chosen for its ability to centralize information and automate communications, as well as its flexible and customizable workflows. In addition, the Student Accessibility Center which serves the entire Dalhousie University had switched to Symplicity’s Accommodate software the year before. The law school decided to change career development software used by the law school for Symplicity’s CSM software at the same time of acquiring UniHub so that all products would be integrated. Students can now access all three products through one entry door. Today, UniHub has not only allowed the law school to consolidate communications, but also provided various forms and workflows for students, making the entire academic process more efficient.
Key Features Implemented
UniHub has provided Schulich a unified platform where students could easily access all necessary academic information, including course registration, academic regulations, and student life resources. The implementation of a single portal has reduced confusion and improved the overall student experience. "We wanted to focus and concentrate communications effort and have one portal where all the information needed for the students would be found,” said Lucie Guibault, Assistant Dean of Student and Academic Affairs. “We value very much the concentration of all the information and the ease to share it with the students. The pages are nicely set up and the reaction of the students is very positive.”
One of the most heavily used features in UniHub has been the form submission system. We use a lot of forms for the whole academic process. The forms come into the system, and we know who takes care of them,” said Guibault. “So it's easier from the back end, and also easier for the students.” Today, these forms from course registration, feedback collection, and academic dispensations are all tracked in real-time to ensure nothing falls through the cracks to provide an enhanced student experience all in a student-friendly platform. With UniHub, the law school has been able to handle over 169 academic dispensation submissions all of which would have otherwise created a significant bottleneck if handled manually through email.
“We wanted to focus and concentrate communications effort and have one portal where all the information needed for the students would be found. We value very much the concentration of all the information and the ease to share it with the students. The pages are nicely set up and the reaction of the students is very positive."
Lucie Guibault
Assistant Dean of Student and Academic Affairs,
The automating processes within UniHub, such as sending notifications and emails, has saved both the students and staff time. Now, staff are less focused on clerical office tasks, and instead can spend time focusing on providing robust student support. Schulich has seen a 50percent reduction in time spent on manual email communications, thanks to the platform’s automation capabilities. Plus, the flexibility to build workflows in real time has enabled the law school to expand its use of the system.
Throughout the implementation process, the support provided by Symplicity has been a critical factor in overcoming challenges. “The whole team always willing to adapt to what we need… It’s been great support throughout and a great experience,” said Guibault.
Future Success with UniHub
Symplicity UniHub has been instrumental in helping Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University overcome communication challenges, streamline academic processes, and improve the student experience. With the platform’s adaptability and automation features, the school is poised to continue enhancing its operational efficiency and student engagement.
